Zim to start conglomerate diamond mining

individual stones (larger than sand) that have been cemented together and require highly mechanised machinery to extract.

Another type of the gems is the kimberlite, an igneous rock best known for sometimes containing diamonds and occurs in the earth’s crust in vertical structures known as kimberlite pipes.

The mining of conglomerate diamonds would see Zimbabwe matching other diamond producing countries in the region such as Botswana, Angola, South Africa and Namibia.

“We are hoping to support that earth moving equipment with processing equipment for conglomerates and exploration equipment. We need to have solid exploration equipment. The first aspect in any mining activity is exploration. You need to know what you have. You need to have a resource statement.

“That resource statement will tell you the size of the mine that you are going to build, the kind of equipment that you require and the amount of resource that you are going to spend. So, most of the $80 million is going to be devoted to exploration while some of it will be devoted to mining equipment,” said Minister Chidhakwa.

He said the Government would announce the number of diamond deposits in the country after completing exploration activities.

“You are aware we have been mining alluvial diamonds for the last few years. We believe that we now need to combine the little alluvial diamond resource with conglomerates. So the exploration that is taking place is to establish the conglomerate resource. There is also exploration that is taking place in respect of trying to identify kimberlite and see what happens but once those activities are complete we will be able to announce to the nation what we have,” said Minister Chidhakwa.

The Government through the ZCDC has set sights at expanding diamond exploration to other parts of Manicaland to include Mutasa and Mutambara.

Zimbabwe merged diamond mining companies previously operating in Chiadzwa diamond fields into ZCDC as Government moved in to ensure accountability.

The companies that used to mine diamonds in Chiadzwa include Mbada, Anjin, Marange Resources, Gye Nyame and Diamond Mining Corporation.

This triggered some court actions as some miners resisted eviction arguing the move was unlawful.

As a result, diamond production declined by 62 percent to 924 388 carats last year due to court cases filed by the evicted miners resisting Government’s decision to consolidate the sector.

The consolidation of the industry is expected to enhance transparency and accountability.

This will in turn improve revenue inflows from the gems and will go a long way in speeding Zimbabwe’s economic recovery. Elsewhere in the region, Botswana and Namibia are significantly benefiting from diamond revenue. In Botswana, for instance, where on average about $3,2 billion worth of diamonds are produced annually, the revenues enable every child to receive free education up to the age of 13.

Recently ZCDC chief executive officer Dr Moris Mpofu was quoted as saying the company has stopped selling diamonds on rushed basis.

“Since last year when ZCDC was formed, we have been selling diamonds on rushed basis to raise working capital, but this was stopped in March 2017. RBZ has provided us with a working capital facility which allows us to continue producing diamonds. ZCDC has also adopted a stock accumulation policy from RBZ and the Government which allows us to build and accumulate diamond stocks which we will tender at the right time, to the right bidder and at the right price,” said Dr Mpofu.